General Discussion

1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: In a surprise appearance, Syrian General
Intelligence Director (GID) General Ali Mamlouk attended a
February 18 meeting between Vice Foreign Minister Faisal
al-Miqdad and a U.S. delegation led by S/CT Coordinator
Daniel Benjamin. Miqdad explained Mamlouk had joined the
meeting at the request of President Bashar al-Asad as a
gesture following a positive meeting between U/S William
Burns and the Syrian president the previous day. Stressing
the meeting did not signal the commencement of security and
intelligence cooperation between Syria and the United States,
the Syrian side said the discussion could be a starting point
for a blueprint regarding possible cooperation in the future.
Calling Coordinator Benjamin's description of terrorist
groups operating in the region "valid," Mamlouk emphasized
the linkage between progress on political issues in
U.S.-Syrian relations and possible security and intelligence
cooperation. He identified Syrian-Iraqi border security as
an area where Syria could cooperate with the U.S., but only
after Iraqi legislative elections in March. Mamlouk added
cooperation on Syrian-Iraqi border security could lead to
security cooperation in other areas.

2. (S/NF) Mamlouk, Miqdad, and Syrian Ambassador to the U.S.
Imad Mustapha were attentive during Benjamin's presentation
on al-Qaeda, foreign fighters, and other common threats, and
reacted positively to his warnings that these issues
presented challenges to both the U.S. and Syria. Mamlouk and
Miqdad emphasized three points regarding possible security
and intelligence cooperation with the U.S.: (1) Syria must be
able to take the lead in any regional actions; (2) politics
are an integral part of combating terrorism, and a "political
umbrella" of improved U.S.-Syrian bilateral relations should
facilitate cooperation against terrorism; and (3) in order to
convince the Syrian people that cooperation with the U.S. was
benefiting them, progress must be made on issues related to
economic sanctions against Syria including spare parts for
airplanes and a plane for President Asad. "In summary,
President Asad wants cooperation, we should take the lead on
that cooperation, and don't put us on your lists," Miqdad
declared. END SUMMARY.

SURPRISE GUEST AT MIQDAD MEETING

3. (S/NF) GID Director General Ali Mamlouk was the surprise
guest at a February 18 meeting at the MFA hosted by Vice
Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad with S/CT Coordinator
Daniel Benjamin, DHS A/S David Heyman, and NEA DAS Maura
Connelly. Miqdad said Mamlouk's participation in the meeting
had come at the direction of President Asad following what
Miqdad termed a positive meeting between Asad and U/S Burns
on February 17. Syrian Ambassador to the U.S. Imad Mustapha,
who translated for Mamlouk during the meeting, stated that
Mamlouk's attendance at meetings with foreign delegations was
extraordinary and did not occur "even with friendly countries
like Britain and France." Mustapha explained President Asad
instructed Mamlouk to attend the meeting as a personal
gesture.

4. (S/NF) Benjamin, stressing that cooperation on
counter-terrorism efforts was an essential part of the
roadmap for improved bilateral relations, noted that there
were issues on which we had clear differences, such as Syrian
support for Hamas and Hizballah. The U.S., he continued,
still viewed these groups as undermining stability and the
prospects for peace in the region. Nonetheless, the two
countries should still work to cooperate on immediate threats
facing both the U.S. and Syria, including the proliferation
of takfiri groups in the region, such as al-Qaeda, and
stopping the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq. The
Coordinator provided Mamlouk an overview of the threats posed
by terrorist groups operating in the region from North Africa
to Iraq to Yemen. Benjamin noted the challenge that these

groups posed to Syria as well, illustrated by the September
2008 attack on a Syrian intelligence building. He explained
the U.S. is concerned about the long-term implications of
arms smuggling to Lebanon and Iraq through Syria, and
observed that the disarray among the Palestinians could
ultimately create an opening for groups with an al-Qaeda
orientation, citing the case of Junjalat, a radical faction
in Gaza.

5. (S/NF) Mamlouk pointed to Syria's 30 years of experience
in battling radical groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood as
evidence of Syria's commitment to the fight against
terrorism. Mamlouk termed Benjamin's description of the
challenges posed by terrorist groups in the region as "valid,
despite the reasons that gave rise to them." Mamlouk
repeatedly stressed his attendance at the meeting did not
signal the commencement of security and intelligence
cooperation between Syria and the U.S., but could be a
starting point for "a blueprint for that which is not yet
started." Echoing Miqdad, Mamlouk said progress on political
issues in the Syrian-U.S. bilateral relationship was "closely
connected" to progress on possible cooperation on security
and intelligence.

MAMLOUK DESCRIBES GID'S METHODS

6. (S/NF) The GID Director said Syria had been more
successful than the U.S. and other countries in the region in
fighting terrorist groups because "we are practical and not
theoretical." He stated Syria's success is due to its
penetration of terrorist groups. "In principle, we don't
attack or kill them immediately. Instead, we embed ourselves
in them and only at the opportune moment do we move."
Describing the process of planting embeds in terrorist
organizations as "complex," Mamlouk said the result had
yielded been the detention of scores of terrorists, stamping
out terror cells, and stopping hundreds of terrorists from
entering Iraq. Mamlouk acknowledged some terrorists were
still slipping into Iraq from Syria. "By all means we will
continue to do all this, but if we start cooperation with you
it will lead to better results and we can better protect our
interests," he concluded.

7. (S/NF) According to Mamlouk, Syria's previous experience
in cooperating with the U.S. on intelligence "was not a happy
one." He stated Syria hoped any future cooperation would be
"on an equal basis." Mamlouk specified this meant Syria
should be allowed to "take the lead" on anti-terrorism
efforts. Alluding to the "wealth of information" Syria has
obtained while penetrating terrorist groups, Mamlouk declared
"we have a lot of experience and know these groups. This is
our area, and we know it. We are on the ground, and so we
should take the lead."

POSSIBLE COOPERATION ON IRAQ

8. (S/NF) Mamlouk identified Iraqi border security as an area
where Syria and the U.S. could cooperate. He described Syria
as ready to move forward on tripartite border security talks,
but added "we are at a freezing point until after the Iraqi
elections" scheduled for March. Mamlouk added that
cooperation on Iraqi border security could lead to
cooperation in other areas.

9. (S/NF) Benjamin, noting the importance of achieving a
secure and stable Iraq, stated an important measure of
progress on this subject is further success on reducing the
flow of foreign fighters and cracking down on their
facilitators. Mamlouk said the foreign fighters come from a
large number of Arab and Muslim countries and that the
Syrians detain "large numbers plus their local facilitators."
As an example, Mamlouk said he handed over 23 Saudis
detained in Syria to Saudi Prince Muqrin last year. Benjamin
commended Mamlouk on reducing the flow of foreign fighters,

while encouraging further progress. Miqdad interjected that
the issue of foreign fighters using Syrian soil is a matter
of national security for Syria. "We have zero tolerance," he
said. Miqdad said Syria needs the cooperation of other
countries, namely those from which the terrorists are coming.
"If we can close this circle - with us, you, and other
countries - we will succeed," he concluded.

10. (S/NF) Miqdad added that Syrian/Lebanese border security
is also a subject on which the SARG is making progress.
Stating "the past is behind us," Miqdad said Syria is
attempting to assist the Lebanese on security at ports and at
the border without interfering in internal Lebanese affairs.

UPDATE ON TERRORIST NAMES PROVIDED BY USG

11. (S/NF) Alluding to previous USG requests for assistance
on tracking down terrorists thought to be in Syria, the
Syrian side stressed that intelligence cooperation between
the U.S. and Syria should not be solely based on receiving
names of terrorist suspects from the USG and checking up on
those individuals. However, Mamlouk confirmed that Syria
could verify the specific whereabouts of several individuals
who had been discussed in previous meetings with SARG
officials.

MIQDAD WANTS POLITICAL UMBRELLA TO GUIDE SECURITY COOPERATION

12. (S/NF) Following Mamlouk's statements regarding possible
security and intelligence cooperation, Miqdad stated he
wanted to emphasize three points. First, Miqdad said that
because of Syria's "wealth of information" on following 30
years of facing security threats from takfiri groups, Syria
must be able to take the lead in any joint efforts. Second,
the Vice Foreign Minister said politics are an integral part
of combating terrorism and warned that listing Syria as a
state sponsor of terrorism and including Syria on the list of
14 countries for enhanced screening by the Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) created a "contradiction" when
the U.S. subsequently requested cooperation with Syria
against terrorism. Miqdad stressed a "political umbrella" of
improved U.S.-Syrian bilateral relations should facilitate
counterterrorism cooperation.

13. (S/NF) Third, Miqdad stated convincing the Syrian people
to support cooperation with the U.S. would hinge on progress
on economic sanctions against Syria, including spare parts
for airplanes and a plane for President Asad. The Vice
Foreign Minister said the Syrians wanted these efforts
"accelerated." Miqdad specifically requested the USG reach
out to Lufthansa Technik and "assure them of no negative
consequences" if they cooperate with Syrian requests to have
the purchase of spare aircraft parts approved. In response,
Benjamin said the Obama administration viewed
counterterrorism as a vital concern but, unlike its
predecessor, it did not see counterterrorism as something
that was separate from the rest of U.S. foreign policy or the
sole driver of U.S. foreign policy. Rather, it was part of
the fabric of policy, and the administration recognized that
progress in bilateral relations would involve coordinated
moves in a number of areas. Benjamin added the U.S. expected
that the Syrian people would see the benefits of closer
relations.

14. (S/NF) Miqdad also encouraged the U.S. to reconsider
including Syria on the TSA's list for enhanced screening, and
praised U/S Burns for informing the SARG that the U.S. was
prepared to lift its block on Syrian accession to the World
Trade Organization. "In summary, President Asad wants
cooperation, we should take the lead on that cooperation, and
don't put us on your lists," Miqdad declared.

DHS BRIEFING

15. (S/NF) Benjamin and Heyman underscored that the TSA's
enhanced screening requirements protected travelers of all
nationalities, and that the TSA does not target Syrians but
applies to all travelers, including American citizens, coming
to the U.S. from or through the listed countries.

16. (S/NF) A/S Heyman provided the Syrians with a brief
overview of DHS's mission and activities, focusing in
particular on its expertise in the management of ports,
airports, and land borders. He noted DHS could explore with
the SARG ways to meet international security standards at
ports. This, in turn, could lead to enhanced trade and
travel between the two countries, and reduce obstacles to
shipping between the U.S. and Syria. Heyman said the Coast
Guard was prepared to send a team to Syria to work on port
security with their Syrian counterparts. This type of
activity could lead to measures that reduced costs and
lowered barriers to shipping. General Mamlouk said the SARG
would study the proposed Coast Guard visit.

UPCOMING VISITS

17. (S/NF) Highlighting the importance of continued
U.S.-Syrian dialogue on bilateral issues, Benjamin proposed a
mid-March visit to Damascus by NEA A/S Feltman and NSC Senior
Director for the Middle East and North Africa Daniel Shapiro.
Benjamin invited Miqdad to a subsequent visit to Washington
in April. Miqdad spoke at length about his fondness for A/S
Feltman, and thanked Benjamin for the invitation to visit
Washington. Benjamin added he was ready to return to
Damascus at the appropriate time. Mamlouk asked Benjamin
what the agenda of his next visit would be, and Benjamin
explained that it would depend on the outcome of the upcoming
visits.

18. (C) U.S. participants:
S/CT Coordinator Daniel Benjamin
CDA Charles Hunter
DHS A/S David Heyman
NEA DAS Maura Connelly
NSC Director for Lebanon and Syria Meaghen McDermott
S/CT Staff Patrick Worman
POL/ECON Jay Munir, notetaker

19. (C) Syrian participants:
Vice Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad
GID Director General Ali Mamlouk
Syrian Ambassador to the U.S. Imad Mustapha
MFA Americas' Director Muhammad Khafif
Miqdad Chief of Staff Husam Al'aa

20. (U) S/CT Benjamin cleared this message.